Answer :
Final answer:
Energy flows from a hotter body to a colder body due to particle collisions, leading to a more uniform distribution of thermal energy. This process, visualized using a microstate model, shows energy being transferred resulting in a new microstate distribution. Once the energy is transferred, it becomes unavailable to perform work.
Explanation:
The flow of energy when one body is placed next to another can be explained by principles of thermal physics. Heat will spontaneously flow from the hotter body to the colder body, resulting in a more uniform distribution of thermal energy. This is due to particle collisions that occur when two bodies are in contact, resulting in a net flux of heat from the higher-temperature body to the lower-temperature body, as stated in Figure 11.4. This principle remains the same regardless of whether it is Beaker 1 placed next to Beaker 2 or Beaker 2 placed next to Beaker 3, assuming the respective temperature differences remain the same.
Looking at the microstate model in Figure 16.9 or Figure 12.9, we can further visualize this energy transfer. Initially, a hot object containing both energy units as represented by a distribution of three microstates is depicted. The heat flow results in an even dispersal of energy (one energy unit transferred) into a distribution of four microstates. Thus energy transfer leads to a change in the microstate distribution of the particles in the bodies.
All of this underlines the concept of entropy, explaining why, once energy is transferred and a more homogeneous temperature is reached, this energy becomes unavailable to perform work as it was initially.
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